The Day I Met the Hero of Israel in Haifa (Exclusive Interview)

Tower block housing in Haifa near where the hero of Israel lives and protests daily.

It’s not everyday you meet a hero. While nonchalantly backpacking on the west coast of the country, I met the “Hero of Israel” in Haifa, or at least the brother and media guy for the hero of Israel. It was all a bit confusing and odd, and in Hebrew. But I got a kind of interview with him as an exclusive. Via my friends, I got to interview the enigma of a man who is the self proclaimed “hero of Israel”. A very insightful and interesting day on my travels and I’m glad to share this little experience with you on Don’t Stop Living finally.

Interviewing the hero of Israel in Haifa!

Most backpackers in Haifa head to the beach, to the Stella Maris Monastery and to the Baha’ai Shrine. Yes we did that as well, but I got away from the usual backpacking trail by staying with my cool friends, Alex and Natali in a local area. Not a more welcoming couple could you meet.

It was on this walk that I met the hero of Israel. At least in his mind. I met up with a man who claims to be the hero of Israel on the streets of Haifa. Who the fuck was this random dude in Haifa? What’s his name? Why is he a hero? What’s his story?

Shaking hands and interviewing Shomi, the Hero of Israel, in Haifa

You can watch the quick video clip (think it’s 8 minutes long) at the bottom of this post (it’s all in Hebrew). The thing is though, this was a bit of a scoop, as this dude refuses to talk to ordinary people and will only tell his story to the media that he trusts and believes will not exploit it or mis-tell it. He wants an outlet for his story, which is why I share what I know on here today. As we met up with him, I told him I am a travel writer backpacking through the Middle East and keen to hear his story. So he agreed to open up.

Chatting with Shomi, the hero of Israel in Haifa

We speak in Hebrew, through my friends Natali and Alex they translate for me into English and here’s roughly what I found out, I have put this in point form as it seemed the best way to sum it up, and I also must apologise for any inaccuracies in the story due to language barriers etc., I’ve done the best I could to tell the story:

– The Hero of Israel lives in a derelict building in the south part of Haifa.
– The Hero of Israel only speaks to people he decides (like backpackers who write about random stuff, we got an exclusive here for you on Don’t Stop Living 😉 )
– The Hero of Israel doesn’t trust the media.
– The Hero of Israel believes they will report on his story in the wrong way.
– The Hero of Israel is treated as a criminal by the Israeli Police and Government.
– The Hero of Israel is not treated as a political terrorist by the Israeli Police and Government.
– Everyday the Hero of Israel is out and about hanging around his Protest/Message Banners.

Shomi sits by his protest banners in Haifa

– It took the Israeli Police a year to actually act upon what the Hero of Israel was telling them.
– He tells about a soldier who tried to commit suicide a hat-trick of times.
– His parents treated this soldier after the incident because he had a post-trauma experience.
– The soldier is his brother.
– Local people don’t respect him, his brother or his family.

Chatting to Shomi in Haifa, Israel

– The Hero of Israel has tapes and evidence of terrible things as proof of what happened.
– The Hero of Israel feels he cannot give these tapes to journalists as they generally don’t listen to his story.
– The Hero of Israel feels journalists would destroy his evidence, refuse to believe it or mis interpret it.
– The Hero of Israel has VERY important information that can turn the whole state around (undoubtedly the most interesting revelation in the interview).

One of many slogans that the hero of Israel has placed near where he lives.

– The Hero of Israel wants the media to listen but needs to trust and hope that they tell his tory in the correct way.
– The Hero of Israel is called Shomi (hope that’s the correct spelling in English) and his brother is called Shy El.
– His brother Shy El was stabbed one night in the place where they stay in Haifa.
– His brother Shy El was sleeping in this building the time of the interview with Shomi.
– At the end of the interview he asked for my business card, I gave it to him, shook his hand, thanked him for the interview and off we went to the beach.

Handing my business card to Shomi, the Hero of Israel.

I told Shomi I would share his story on my site, and here it is. Apologies that it has taken 9 months or so. I felt I had to sit down, listen to the interview properly and type it up with a clear head as I have done tonight. I wanted to do the story some kind of justice.

Interviewing Shomi, the Hero of Israel in Haifa.

Thanks to Shomi, the Hero of Israel for giving me this interview and the time. Thanks to Panny for filming the interview and thanks to Natali and Alex for asking questions, conducting the interview, translating and making the whole thing happen.

If you’re a journalist and you want to listen to and cover Shomi’s story in the correct way, head to Haifa and track the man down – he sits near the memorial down by the beach – you’ll find him. And please tell it like it is – neither myself nor Shomi have time for liars, fake or wannabes.

Peace out.

Here it is – the full interview with Shomi, the Hero of Israel:

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Wow Jonny! You toured some really remote towns and wrote about them. And this interview which was with a hero? Amazing!! And even more cool – your friends from Haifa (Oksana, Alexander and Natalia) actually met you and showed you the sights and had a beer together, they didn’t lie to you like me. I feel so ashamed. Wish I could rewind time and understand why you backpacked to the lonely towns and villages of every tourist and friend you made on your 14 year, 150 country journey. As always, safe travels and best wishes, Aleksandra

Hi Aleksandra, thanks for the comment. As I have mentioned and tried to explain many times (to no avail), all I expected was that you were the same type of honest tourist and travel friend as the other 2 thousand people I met in 150 countries over 14 years. NONE of my other friends lied to me. They met me, they showed me sights, told me bus routes, the most unusual towns are better (Kokoszkowy, Mizra, Isfiya, Shahr e Kord etc.). You were the first person to disrespect my journey, my writing and lie to me to make a fool out of me, and you have made me suicidal daily for 10 months now. I still pray for you and wish you all the best but please try and understand what you have done wrong here. Best wishes. Jonny

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Jonny Blair is a travel writer, teacher and barman. Jonny lives in Poland and is recovering from mental health problems caused by liars. Jonny still wants to travel and inspire others but be careful who you trust.Jonny was recently in Gdańsk, POLANDHe last backpacked in Kaliningrad City, KALININGRADNow Jonny Blair lives in Gdańsk, POLAND
Number of continents visited: 7
Number of countries visited: 165 (including disputed countries)
Number of cities/towns visited: 1153 NOT OUT!
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